Nie Hau to all of you (excuse the Mandarin...they actually speak a different dialect of Chinese in Hong Kong..which I have not been able to learn easily... not that I am doing any better in Mandarin...however, HK, due to its British colonial past has much more English and English speakers than Guangzhou.)
It has been a whirlwind three weeks, Bruce exploring a huge range of amazing sights while I have been getting to know my students and teaching. Both wonderful in different ways. I have particularly enjoyed the depth of connections I have made teaching...as well as the opportunity to begin to get a sense of Guangzhou (Mainland, southeastern China) and Hong Kong culture. Both are rich and multilayered...and there is so much more to learn and see. But first thoughts about the classes. Teaching the students in both of my classes has been a wonderful experience. They are open and curious and fearless. They grasp the topics on such a profoud and metaphoric level, in a way that is different from most of my Minnesotan students. We talk about energy and balance and how who we are as individuals relate to the earth, and culture and each other. Conversations are moving a profound. Last September, when I was here for the first time, I worried that moving would be scary or hard for many, that they would be shy and not share their experiences with others or would not bring themselves fully to the learning process. Happily I have found this to not be the case at all. We have amazing conversations about western versus Chinese views of the body and movement. We discuss how each of our cultures hold harmful views of the body and how as 'grown ups and parents' it is hard to balance cultural values with the hopes and dreams we all hold for the children. I will miss my students and hope I get to see them in the future.
Despite teaching alot, I have also had many wonderful adventures in my free time (which is not extensive, since teaching all day for several days in a row can get pretty tiring). In Hong Kong, Bruce and I explored Hong Kong Island. The waterfront is massive and filled with towering financial buildings (fitting of HK being such an central financial center of the world) that sparkle with lights shows in the evening. But moving towards the center of the island, it becomes more varies and human. We took the peak tram to the top of Victoria Peak to orient ourselves, before we descended to explore a few neighborhoods. (At the top of the peak, you can either hike to various trains down (not much fun in the hot humid weather) or shop at the multilayered mall that is also at the top of the peak. HK is all about consuming- malls sit side by side almost everywhere. Shops range from fancy designer stores to inexpensive 'faux' designer items. When people talk they often talk about getting somethig that is a good deal, e.g. cheap but high quality... and the shops are always full of people.)
After the peak we took a huge outdoor escalator, like a moving sidewalk to other areas of HK. We visited a small mosque, and arrived in time for prayer (only men no women were in view).
From there we walked to an old synagogue... Ohel Leah.. Founded by Moroccan Jews (the Sasson family) and almost invisible from the street with no signs. (The clue that it was there at all was a tall beefy man with an ear bud, standing by a fence. I thought, hmm a good clue to the location of many synagogues we have visited in other countries has been semi-unobtrusive armed guards nearby. Hong Kong was no exception. I stopped to ask him where the synagogue was, as Bruce looked on- confused as to why I might accost this random man in the street. He asked some of the normal questions- "Where are you from?", "How long had we been in Hong Kong?" "Why were we visiting? and the big one: "Why do you want to see the synagogue?" After which he directed us to the entry door to an entire Jewish Community Center. Few people were around but we did see the inside of the synagogue.
It has been a whirlwind three weeks, Bruce exploring a huge range of amazing sights while I have been getting to know my students and teaching. Both wonderful in different ways. I have particularly enjoyed the depth of connections I have made teaching...as well as the opportunity to begin to get a sense of Guangzhou (Mainland, southeastern China) and Hong Kong culture. Both are rich and multilayered...and there is so much more to learn and see. But first thoughts about the classes. Teaching the students in both of my classes has been a wonderful experience. They are open and curious and fearless. They grasp the topics on such a profoud and metaphoric level, in a way that is different from most of my Minnesotan students. We talk about energy and balance and how who we are as individuals relate to the earth, and culture and each other. Conversations are moving a profound. Last September, when I was here for the first time, I worried that moving would be scary or hard for many, that they would be shy and not share their experiences with others or would not bring themselves fully to the learning process. Happily I have found this to not be the case at all. We have amazing conversations about western versus Chinese views of the body and movement. We discuss how each of our cultures hold harmful views of the body and how as 'grown ups and parents' it is hard to balance cultural values with the hopes and dreams we all hold for the children. I will miss my students and hope I get to see them in the future.
Despite teaching alot, I have also had many wonderful adventures in my free time (which is not extensive, since teaching all day for several days in a row can get pretty tiring). In Hong Kong, Bruce and I explored Hong Kong Island. The waterfront is massive and filled with towering financial buildings (fitting of HK being such an central financial center of the world) that sparkle with lights shows in the evening. But moving towards the center of the island, it becomes more varies and human. We took the peak tram to the top of Victoria Peak to orient ourselves, before we descended to explore a few neighborhoods. (At the top of the peak, you can either hike to various trains down (not much fun in the hot humid weather) or shop at the multilayered mall that is also at the top of the peak. HK is all about consuming- malls sit side by side almost everywhere. Shops range from fancy designer stores to inexpensive 'faux' designer items. When people talk they often talk about getting somethig that is a good deal, e.g. cheap but high quality... and the shops are always full of people.)
After the peak we took a huge outdoor escalator, like a moving sidewalk to other areas of HK. We visited a small mosque, and arrived in time for prayer (only men no women were in view).
From there we walked to an old synagogue... Ohel Leah.. Founded by Moroccan Jews (the Sasson family) and almost invisible from the street with no signs. (The clue that it was there at all was a tall beefy man with an ear bud, standing by a fence. I thought, hmm a good clue to the location of many synagogues we have visited in other countries has been semi-unobtrusive armed guards nearby. Hong Kong was no exception. I stopped to ask him where the synagogue was, as Bruce looked on- confused as to why I might accost this random man in the street. He asked some of the normal questions- "Where are you from?", "How long had we been in Hong Kong?" "Why were we visiting? and the big one: "Why do you want to see the synagogue?" After which he directed us to the entry door to an entire Jewish Community Center. Few people were around but we did see the inside of the synagogue.
We have also visited many Taoist temples (often dedicated to the goddess of the sea)..filled with giant incense spirals, plus several huge statues of the god or goddess to whom the temple was dedicated. Entering it would be hot, dark, filled with incense smoke, energetically blowing fans and a few older women caretakers collecting a few HK dollars for three sticks of incense. Often there are also a few people of all ages, bowing and praying briefly, before continuing with their day.
So much more to say... but we have one more day to explore before heading home. Food has been great... Cantonese food is not spicy but focuses on the clean taste of each ingredient. We have had some amazing meals and often preceeded by lots of pointing and guessing as we try to negotiate the language differences. Guangzhou also deserves its own section (and will get a future blog entry). Other random thoughts... both cities have amazingly efficient transportation..and easy to negotiate. In HK, subways (called the MTR) are clean, fast, and we rarely have to wait more than 2 minutes to a connection, no matter how crowded it is during rush hour. In Guangzhou we were more likely to be offered seats (as older looking persons)...than in HK... and in HK we were often the only ones NOT on our cell phone... OK to be continued... off we go to explore a bit more.
Your thoughts on Cantonese food, the Chinese transportation system, the Taoist temples and synagogue, the architecture and waterfront, and your teaching are a wonderful summary of much of what you and Bruce experienced in your three weeks in China. It has been a lot to take in!
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